Bildungsaufstieg: hochschulpolitische Vorgaben versus institutioneller Praxis

Educational Advancement: University Policy vs. Institutional Practice – Examples of support initiatives at universities located in the Tyrol
The focus of documents on university policy is shifting more and more to the concept of the “social dimension”. The objective is to provide previously underrepresented groups in society with greater access to tertiary education and enable them to complete their studies successfully. Yet what do university policy strategy papers understand “equal opportunity” to be? What support initiatives are actually being implemented? Who is seen as belonging to the target group for all practical purposes? This article attempts to answer these questions in the context of the university funded project “Chill die Basis: Förderung von nicht-traditionellen Studierenden” (Just Chill: Supporting Non-traditional Students) at universities located in the federal state of Tyrol. From the comparison of national standards/requirements and the specific local and institutional implementation/practice, it is apparent that course developers are subject to pressure to deliver something effective, yet the prescriptive framework is hardly conducive to action. The conclusion of the authors is sobering: what began as support for disadvantaged groups leads to a covering up of specific forms of discrimination and the subordination of initiatives so as to achieve the greatest benefit for all students. (Ed.)